The Definitive Ryobi Drill Purchasing Guide

Looking for a Ryobi Drill, we’ll take you on a tour. A job is only as good as the tools used to finish it. If you use sub-par tools on the job site, it’s almost a guarantee your finished product won’t live up to your expectations.

Regardless of whether you’re a general contractor or a dedicated DIYer, one of your primary tools will always be your drill.

You can choose from an endless selection of options, but the one we’ll look at today is the Ryobi drill.

Why a Ryobi Drill?

Brands like Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee have been mainstays on the drill scene for years.

Ryobi is a relative newcomer to the game, so what makes their products worth your consideration?

For starters, Ryobi features a unique battery system that allows you to switch out batteries between all of your tools. That means you don’t need to double-check that your cordless router and drill both have charged batteries before a day’s work.

Instead, take the battery from the drill, pop it in the router, and you’re good to go.

Your Options

Ryobi offers quite a few choices when it comes to drills. For most serious projects, you’ll want a 12 or 18-volt drill. Anything smaller just doesn’t have the power to get the job done right the first time.

Add in the requirement for a cordless drill – because it makes moving around the job site so much easier when you don’t trip over extension cords – and Ryobi has exactly 16 different models you can choose from.

That number does include drivers, impact drivers, and brushless hammer models. Ryobi also offers quite a few right-angle drills and quick-turn screwdrivers.

For simplicity’s sake, we’ll stick to looking at pure impact and driver-style drills. That leaves us with the following 10 choices.

Ryobi Drill : 12-volt Compact Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

Pros:

The only 12-volt cordless drill to make the list, the Compact Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver is designed to give you the same performance as its full-sized bigger brother, but in a smaller package.

Ryobi built this with a battery they say is 33% lighter than a full-size, and the entire drill is 30% smaller, making it ideal for hard-to-reach places.

Cons:

Being a compact product, this drill’s battery won’t work with every other Ryobi tool in your arsenal. If you already own a lot of Ryobi tools or plan to, you may want a full-size.

Ryobi Drill : 18-volt One+ Hammer Drill

Pros:

This kit gives you a hammer drill with a variable 2-speed transmission and up to 1500 RPM. It’s fairly easy to switch from drilling to driving as well. The price point of $79 is great for a product like this – especially being a cordless 18-volt option.

Cons:

This particular kit is only available as an online purchase. You can’t visit your local hardware store and see if you like the fit in your hands before buying it.

Ryobi Drill : 18-volt Lithium-Ion Starter Drill

Pros:

The price on this starter kit is hard to beat since you get cordless performance for less than $60. It also has a common 3/8-inch keyless chuck, which makes switching bits out easy. It’s also part of the One+ family, meaning you can use other One+ products’ batteries to power this drill.

Cons:

You don’t get variable speed control or quite the amount of clutch positions as you would in a drill that costs quite a bit more.

18-volt One+ 3 speed 1/2in. Impact Wrench

Ryobi Drill 18 Volt Impact Wrench

Pros:

This updated version of the impact wrench is smaller and packs more power than its predecessor. Add its 300 ft-lb of torque and nearly 3,200 impacts per minute, and you have a very impressive product at a reasonable price.

Cons:

It’s a bit more expensive than other options on this list but other than that, it’s a great option for most anyone who needs an impact wrench.

18-volt One+ Compact Drill/Driver

Pros:

According to Ryobi, this drill packs as much performance as a full-size one, thanks to its powerful motor. The company also touts this option as their most compact drill available. Add in the dual-threat nature of it being a drill and driver, and you have a great product.

Cons:

You may not get exactly the same performance as from a full-size drill/driver combo. You also don’t have as many options for customizing speed or clutch positions.

18-volt One+ Hammer Drill

Pros:

This is a full-size hammer drill that features full-size performance. With 1,600 RPMs and up to 2,400 BPM, this is one drill that won’t leave you wanting for power. On top of that, there’s a 24-position clutch to handle extremely high-torque situations.

Cons:

You may not need a hammer drill, but that’s really the only con to this product. It’s a great piece of equipment at a very reasonable price.

Ryobi Drill : 18-volt Brushless Hammer Drill

Pros:

Brushless drills offer up to 50% more longevity – both long and short-term – than their brushed-motor counterparts. This drill also produces 750-in pounds of torque and features an all-metal 1/2-inch keyless, ratcheting chuck to make switching jobs a breeze.

Cons:

There really aren’t any with this drill. It’s hard to go wrong with any cordless brushless option, but the fact that Ryobi can price this one at $149 is pretty impressive.

A Drill for Every Occasion

You can find a Ryobi drill that matches your needs for nearly any construction project. While some may not trust the lower price points on these models compared to their industry counterparts, Ryobi has made enough noise for themselves that they’re worth considering, at the very least.

Regardless of the project – from installing home solar panels to ceiling fans – you’ll likely be satisfied with your purchase.

In addition, if you’re looking for ways to use your battery-powered tools alongside a more eco-friendly environment, check out the latest news and updates in the solar industry on our website.

A Solar energy professional with ten years of marketing and installation experience. Avid and passionate about the adoption of solar and related technologies in all homes. Blogs about all things solar and sustainable at MySolarHome.us.

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